Tomato hybrid px 02470002 and parent lines thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and theinbred tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a tomato plant of thehybrid designated PX 02470002, the tomato line PSQ 24-2212 or tomatoline PSQ 24-2147. Also provided are tomato plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these tomato plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of tomato hybrid PX 02470002and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and/ortomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and/ortomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147. The tomato seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population oftomato seed of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212and PSQ 24-2147. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed,including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of tomato plants designated PX 02470002 and/or tomato linesPSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a tomato plant of hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 is provided. The tissue culture will preferablybe capable of regenerating tomato plants capable of expressing all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the startingplant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotypeas the starting plant. Examples of some of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomatolines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 include those traits set forth in thetables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may bederived, for example, from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen,leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, seed and stalks.Still further, the present invention provides tomato plants regeneratedfrom a tissue culture of the invention, the plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid PX 02470002and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing tomato seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent tomato plant with a second parenttomato plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent tomatoplants is a plant of tomato line PSQ 24-2212 or tomato line PSQ 24-2147.These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparinghybrid tomato seed or plants, wherein a first tomato plant is crossedwith a second tomato plant of a different, distinct genotype to providea hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of tomato line PSQ24-2212 or tomato line PSQ 24-2147. In these processes, crossing willresult in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardlessof whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent tomato plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent tomato plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent tomato plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent tomato plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a tomato plant or hybrid tomatoplant.

The present invention also provides the tomato seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent tomato plant with asecond parent tomato plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent tomato plants is a plant of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and/ortomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147. In one embodiment of theinvention, tomato seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid tomato seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridtomato plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid tomato plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato linesPSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomatolines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid PX 02470002and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147. The plant derived fromhybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 maybe an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of tomatohybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one tomato from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement oftomato hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ24-2147 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer tothe aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a tomato plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides tomato plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the tomato plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid PX 02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212and PSQ 24-2147 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by tomato plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a tomato plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second tomato plant, preferably, another, distincttomato plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a tomatoplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of tomato hybrid PX 02470002, tomato line PSQ24-2212 and tomato line PSQ 24-2147. The hybrid PX 02470002 is producedby the cross of parent lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147. The parentlines show uniformity and stability within the limits of environmentalinfluence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed of hybrid PX02470002 can be obtained.

PX 02470002 is a tomato hybrid adapted to growing conditions in aridclimates, with specific adaptability to the California Central Valley.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Tomato Hybrid PX 02470002

The parents of hybrid PX 02470002 are PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147. Theseparents were created as follows.

Tomato line PSQ 24-2212 was created using pedigree selection. AccessionT7074 was harvested and used to create a large segregating population.Six generations of individual plant horticultural pedigree selectionfollowed.

The breeding history for line PSQ 24-2212 is as follows:

Year 8 F2 (T7074) Year 9 F3 (T7074) Year 9 F4 (T7074) Year 10 F5 (T7074)Year 10 F6 (T7074) Year 11 F7 Line (T7074) designated as PSQ 24-2212 andsent for seed increase

Tomato line PSQ 24-2147 was created using a combination of crossing,backcrossing and pedigree selection. TSWV (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus)resistant line T5534 was used as a source of TSWV resistance. Twocrosses (BC1) to inbred line 8892/1475 were made, followed by sevengenerations of single plant pedigree selection and then bulk in theBC1F8 generation. TSWV resistance was scored as fixed by live plantscreening in the BC1F5 generation.

The breeding history for line PSQ 24-2147 is as follows:

Year 1 F1 (T5534 × 8892/1475) Year 2 BC1 (T5534 × 8892/1475)8892/1475Year 3 BC1F2 Year 4 BC1F3 Year 4 BC1F4 Year 5 BC1F5 Line scored as fixedfor TSWV resistance Year 6 BC1F6 Year 7 BC1F7 Year 8 BC1F8 Line bulkedand designated as PSQ 24-2147 and sent for seed increase

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as there so is a hybridproduced therefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur withincommercially acceptable limits for almost any characteristic during thecourse of repeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Tomato Hybrid PX02470002, Tomato Line PSQ 24-2212 and Tomato Line PSQ 24-2147

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PX02470002 Comparison CHARACTERISTIC PX 02470002 Variety VF 134 1.Seedling Anthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 present (Montfavet H 63.4)present cm seedling Habit of 3-4 week old seedling normal normal 2.Mature Plant Height 63 cm 60 cm Growth type determinate (Campbell 1327,determinate Prisca) Number of inflorescences on main few (Campbell 1327)medium stem (side shoots to be removed) Form lax, open lax, open Size ofcanopy (compared to others medium large of similar type) Habitsemi-erect sprawling 3. Stem Anthocyanin coloration of upper absent orvery weak absent or very weak third Branching intermediate (Westover)profuse Branching at cotyledon or first present present leafy nodeNumber of nodes between first 4 to 7 4 to 7 inflorescence Number ofnodes between early (1st 1 to 4 1 to 4 to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd)inflorescences Number of nodes between later 1 to 4 1 to 4 developinginflorescences Pubescence on younger stems sparsely hairy (scatteredmoderately hairy long hairs) 4. Leaf Type (mature leaf beneath the 3rdtomato tomato inflorescence) Morphology (mature leaf beneath pinnateleaf with pinnate leaf with the 3rd inflorescence) small leaflets smallleaflets Margins of major leaflets (mature shallowly toothed shallowlytoothed leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) or scalloped or scallopedMarginal rolling or wiltiness (mature slight absent leaf beneath the 3rdinflorescence) Onset of leaflet rolling (mature leaf early season midseason beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Surface of major leaflets (maturerugose (bumpy or veiny) smooth leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence)Pubescence (mature leaf beneath normal hirsute the 3rd inflorescence)Attitude (in middle third of plant) semi-erect (Allround, Drakar,horizontal Vitador) Length medium (Lorena) long Width narrow (MarmandeVR, Red medium Robin, Tiny Tim) Division of blade pinnate (Mikado,Pilot, pinnate Red Jacket) Size of leaflets (in middle of leaf) medium(Marmande VR, large Royesta) Intensity of green color medium (Lucy)medium Glossiness (in middle third of plant) weak (Daniela) weakBlistering (in middle third of plant) none none Size of blisters (inmiddle third of none none plant) Attitude of petiole of leaflet inrelation horizontal (Sonatine) semi drooping to main axis (in middlethird of plant) 5. Inflorescence Type (2nd and 3rd truss) mainly mainlyuniparous (Dynamo) multiparous Type (3rd inflorescence) simple forkedAverage number of flowers in 5 6 inflorescence (3rd inflorescence) Leafyor “running” inflorescence absent occasional (3rd inflorescence) 6.Flower Calyx normal (lobes awl shaped) normal Calyx-lobes shorter thancorolla shorter than corolla Corolla color yellow yellow Stylepubescence absent or very scarce sparse (Campbell 1327) Anthers allfused into tube all fused into tube Fasciation (1st flower of 2nd or 3rdabsent (Monalbo, occasionally inflorescence) Moneymaker) present Coloryellow (Marmande VR) yellow 7. Fruit Typical shape in longitudinalsection obovate rectangular (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Shape oftransverse/cross section round irregular (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rdcluster) Shape of stem end (3rd fruit of 2nd indented flat or 3rdcluster) Shape of blossom end (3rd fruit of pointed/tapered (Europeel,flat to pointed/ 2nd or 3rd cluster) Heinz 1706, Hypeel 244, nippledRoma VF) Size of blossom scar medium (Alphamech, Apla, very smallCarmello, Floradade) Shape of pistil scar dot dot (3rd fruit of 2nd or3rd cluster) Peduncle: abscission layer absent (Jointless) (Aledo,present (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Bandera, Count, Lerica)Ribbing at peduncle end weak (Early Mech, Hypeel absent or very weak244, Melody, Peto Gro, Rio Grande) Depression at peduncle end weak(Futuria, Melody) absent or very weak Size of stem/peduncle scar small(Early Mech, Peto Gro, small Rio Grande, Roma) Point of detachment offruit at harvest at calyx attachment at pedicel joint (3rd fruit of 2ndor 3rd cluster) Fruit: length of dedicel (3rd fruit of 10 mm 12 mm 2ndor 3rd cluster) Length of mature fruit (3rd fruit of 68 mm 58 mm 2nd or3rd cluster) Diameter of fruit (3rd fruit of 2nd 50 mm 50 mm or 3rdcluster) Weight of mature fruit (3rd fruit of 97 grams 80 grams 2nd or3rd cluster) Size medium (Alphamech, Diego) small Ratio length/diametermedium (Early Mech, Peto small Gro) Core present present Size of core incross section (in large (Apla, Campbell 1327, small relation to totaldiameter) Carmello, Count, Fandango, Floradade) Number of locules only 2(Early Mech, 2 or 3 Europeel, San Marzano) Surface smooth smooth Basecolor (mature-green stage) light green (Lanai, VF apple or medium145-F5) green Pattern (mature-green stage) uniform green green-shouldered Green shoulder (before maturity) absent (Felicia, Rio Grande,absent Trust) Color at maturity (full-ripe) red (Ferline, Daniela, redMontfavet H 63.5) Color of flesh at maturity (full-ripe) red/crimson(Ferline, Saint- red/crimson Pierre) Flesh color uniform uniform Loculargel color of table-tipe fruit red red Firmness firm (Fernova, Konsul,medium Tradiro) Shelf life long (Daniela) long Time of flowering early(Feria, Primabel) medium Time of maturity early (Feria, Rossol) mediumRipening (blossom-to-stem end or uniform uniform uniform?) Ripening(along the radial axis of uniformity uniformity the fruit) Epidermiscolor yellow yellow Epidermis (normal or easy-peel?) normal normalEpidermis texture tough tough Thickness of pericarp thick (Cal J,Daniela, Ferline, medium Peto Gro, Rio Grande) Dry matter content (atmaturity) low (Bonset) Sensitivity to silvering insensitive 8. Chemistryand composition of full-ripe fruits pH 4.3 4.26 Titratable acidity, as %citric 0.30944 0.41984 Total solids (dry matter, seeds and skin 6.3577665.125565 removed as % residue on Wt per Wt basis) Soluble solids as°Brix 5.125 4.4 9. Phenology Seeding to once over harvest 106 days 111days Fruiting season long (Marglobe) medium Relative maturity in areastested medium medium early 10. Adaptation Culture field field Regions towhich adaptation has been Sacramento and Upper San demonstrated JoaquinValley of California *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line PSQ24-2212 Comparison CHARACTERISTIC PSQ 24-2212 Variety VF 134 1. SeedlingAnthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 present (Montfavet present cm seedlingH 63.4) Habit of 3-4 week old seedling normal normal 2. Mature plantHeight 63 cm 60 cm Growth type determinate (Campbell determinate 1327,Prisca) Number of inflorescences on main few (Campbell 1327) medium stem(side shoots to be removed) Form normal lax, open Size of canopy(compared to others large large of similar type) Habit semi-erectsprawling 3. Stem Anthocyanin coloration of upper medium (Rondello)absent or very weak third Length of internode (between 1st medium(Montfavet and 4th inflorescence) H 63.5) Branching profuse (UC 82)profuse Branching at cotyledon or first present present leafy nodeNumber of nodes between first 4 to 7 4 to 7 inflorescence Number ofnodes between early (1st 1 to 4 1 to 4 to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd)inflorescences Number of nodes between later 1 to 4 1 to 4 developinginflorescences Pubescence on younger stems sparsely hairy (scatteredmoderately hairy long hairs) 4. Leaf Type (mature leaf beneath the 3rdtomato tomato inflorescence) Morphology mature leaf beneath pinnate leafwith pinnate leaf with the 3rd inflorescence) small leaflets smallleaflets Margins of major leaflets (mature shallowly toothed shallowlytoothed leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) or scalloped or scallopedMarginal rolling or wiltiness (mature slight absent leaf beneath the 3rdinflorescence) Onset of leaflet rolling (mature early season mid seasonleaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Surface of major leaflets matureleaf rugose (bumpy or veiny) smooth beneath the 3rd inflorescence)Pubescence (mature leaf beneath smooth (no long hairs) hirsute the 3rdinflorescence) Attitude (in middle third of plant) semi-erect (Allround,horizontal Drakar, Vitador) Length medium (Lorena) long Width mediummedium Division of blade pinnate (Mikado, Pilot, pinnate Red Jacket)Size of leaflets (in middle of leaf) medium (Marmande VR, large Royesta)Intensity of green color medium (Lucy) medium Glossiness (in middlethird of plant) weak (Daniela) weak Blistering (in middle third ofplant) weak (Daniela) none Size of blisters (in middle third of small(Husky Cherrie none plant) Red) Attitude of petiole of leaflet inrelation semi-drooping semi drooping to main axis (in middle third ofplant) (Montfavet H 63.5) 5. Inflorescence Type (2nd and 3rd truss)mainly mainly uniparous (Dynamo) multiparous Type (make observations onthe 3rd simple forked inflorescence) Average number of flowers in 4 6inflorescence (make observations on the 3rd inflorescence) Leafy or“running” inflorescence occasional occasional (make observations on the3rd inflorescence) 6. Flower Calyx normal (lobes awl normal shaped)Calyx-lobes shorter than corolla shorter than corolla Corolla coloryellow yellow Style pubescence absent or very scarce sparse (Campbell1327) Anthers all fused into tube all fused into tube Fasciation (1stflower of 2nd or 3rd absent (Monalbo, occasionally inflorescence)Moneymaker) present Color yellow (Marmande VR) yellow 7. Fruit Typicalshape in longitudinal section obovate rectangular (3rd fruit of 2nd or3rd cluster) Shape of transverse/cross section round irregular (3rdfruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Shape of stem end (3rd fruit of 2ndindented flat or 3rd cluster) Shape of blossom end (3rd fruit of flat topointed/nippled flat to pointed/ 2nd or 3rd cluster) (Cal J, Early Mech,Peto nippled Gro) Size of blossom scar medium (Alphamech, very smallApla, Carmello, Floradade) Shape of pistil scar dot dot (3rd fruit of2nd or 3rd cluster) Peduncle: abscission layer absent (jointless)(Aledo, present (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Bandera, Count,Lerica) Ribbing at peduncle end absent or very weak absent or very weak(Calimero, Cerise) Depression at peduncle end weak (Futuria, Melody)absent or very weak Size of stem/peduncle scar small (Early Mech, Petosmall Gro, Rio Grande, Roma) Point of detachment of fruit at harvest atcalyx attachment at pedicel joint (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster)Length of dedicel (3rd fruit of 2nd 12 mm 12 mm or 3rd cluster) Lengthof mature fruit (3rd fruit of 64 mm 58 mm 2nd or 3rd cluster) Diameterof fruit (3rd fruit of 2nd 50 mm 50 mm or 3rd cluster) Weight of maturefruit (3rd fruit of 93 grams 80 grams 2nd or 3rd cluster) Size small(Early Mech, small Europeel, Roma) Ratio length/diameter small (Alicia)small Core coreless (absent or present smaller than 6 × 6 mm) Number oflocules more than 6 2 or 3 (Marmande VR) Surface smooth smooth Basecolor (mature-green stage) light green (Lanai, VF apple or medium145-F5) green Pattern (mature-green stage) uniform green green-shouldered Green shoulder (before maturity) absent (Felicia, Rio absentGrande, Trust) Intensity of green color of fruit light (Capello,Duranto, medium (before maturity) Trust) Color at maturity (full-ripe)red (Ferline, Daniela, red Montfavet H 63.5) Color of flesh at maturity(full-ripe) red/crimson (Ferline, red/crimson Saint-Pierre) Flesh coloruniform uniform Locular gel color of table-ripe fruit red red Firmnessfirm (Fernova, Konsul, medium Tradiro) Shelf life long (Daniela) longTime of flowering late (Manific, Saint- medium Pierre) Time of maturitylate (Manific, Saint- medium Pierre) Ripening (blossom-to-stem end oruniform uniform uniform?) Ripening (along the radial axis of theuniformity uniformity fruit) Epidermis color yellow yellow Epidermis(normal or easy-peel?) normal normal Epidermis texture tough toughThickness of pericarp thick (Cal J, Daniela, check variety # 19 Ferline,Peto Gro, Rio medium Grande) Sensitivity to silvering insensitive(Marathon, insensitive Sano) 8. Chemistry and composition of full-ripefruits pH 4.24 4.26 Titratable acidity, as % citric 0.047904 0.41984Total solids (dry matter, seeds and skin 5.956437 5.125565 removed as %residue on Wt per Wt basis) Soluble solids as °Brix 5.245 4.4 9.Phenology Seeding to once over harvest (if 130 days 120 days applicable)Fruiting season long (Marglobe) medium Relative maturity in areas testedlate medium early 10. Adaptation Culture field field Adaptation: regionsto which Sacramento and Upper San adaptation has been demonstratedJoaquin Valley of California *These are typical values. Values may varydue to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent arealso within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line PSQ24-2147 Comparison CHARACTERISTIC PSQ 24-2147 Variety VF 134 1. SeedlingAnthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 present (Montfavet H 63.4) present cmseedling Habit of 3-4 week old seedling normal normal 2. Mature plantHeight 34 cm 60 cm Growth type determinate (Campbell 1327, determinatePrisca) Number of inflorescences on main medium (Montfavet H 63.4)medium stem (side shoots to be removed) Form normal lax, open Size ofcanopy (compared to others medium large of similar type) Habitsemi-erect sprawling 3. Stem Anthocyanin coloration of upper absent orvery weak absent or very weak third Branching sparse (Brehm's Solid Red,profuse Fireball) Branching at cotyledon or first present present leafynode Number of nodes between first 4 to 7 4 to 7 inflorescence Number ofnodes between early (1st 1 to 4 1 to 4 to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd)inflorescences Number of nodes between later 1 to 4 1 to 4 developinginflorescences Pubescence on younger stems sparsely hairy (scatteredmoderately hairy long hairs) 4. Leaf Type (mature leaf beneath the 3rdtomato tomato inflorescence) Morphology (mature leaf beneath pinnateleaf with pinnate leaf with the 3rd inflorescence) small leaflets smallleaflets Margins of major leaflets (mature shallowly toothed shallowlytoothed leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence) or scalloped or scallopedMarginal rolling or wiltiness (mature slight absent leaf beneath the 3rdinflorescence) Onset of leaflet rolling (mature leaf early season midseason beneath the 3rd inflorescence) Surface of major leaflets (maturerugose (bumpy or veiny) smooth leaf beneath the 3rd inflorescence)Pubescence (mature leaf beneath normal hirsute the 3rd inflorescence)Attitude (in middle third of plant) horizontal (Aromata, Triton)horizontal Length medium (Lorena) long Width medium medium Division ofblade pinnate (Mikado, Pilot, Red pinnate Jacket) Size of leaflets (inmiddle of leaf) large (Daniela, Hynema) large Intensity of green colormedium (Lucy) medium Glossiness (in middle third of plant) weak(Daniela) weak Blistering (in middle third of plant) weak (Daniela) noneSize of blisters (in middle third of small (Husky Cherrie Red) noneplant) Attitude of petiole of leaflet in relation horizontal (Sonatine)semi drooping to main axis (in middle third of plant) 5. InflorescenceType (2nd and 3rd truss) mainly mainly uniparous (Dynamo) multiparousType (3rd inflorescence) simple forked Average number of flowers in 4 6inflorescence (3rd inflorescence) Leafy or “running” inflorescenceabsent occasional (3rd inflorescence) 6. Flower Calyx normal (lobes awlshaped) normal Calyx-lobes shorter than corolla shorter than corollaCorolla color yellow yellow Style pubescence absent or very scarcesparse (Campbell 1327) Anthers all fused into tube all fused into tubeFasciation (1st flower of 2nd or 3rd absent (Monalbo, occasionallyinflorescence) Moneymaker) present Color yellow (Marmande VR) yellow 7.Fruit Typical shape in longitudinal section obovate rectangular (3rdfruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Shape of transverse/cross section flattenedirregular (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Shape of stem end (3rd fruitof 2nd indented flat or 3rd cluster) Shape of blossom end (3rd fruit offlat to pointed/nippled (Cal flat to pointed/ 2nd or 3rd cluster) J,Early Mech, Peto Gro) nippled Size of blossom scar medium (Alphamech,Apla, very small Carmello, Floradade) Shape of pistil scar dot dot (3rdfruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Peduncle: abscission layer absent(jointless) (Aledo, present (3rd fruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Bandera,Count, Lerica) Ribbing at peduncle end weak (Early Mech, Hypeel absentor very weak 244, Melody, Peto Gro, Rio Grande) Depression at peduncleend weak (Futuria, Melody) absent or very weak Size of stem/pedunclescar small (Early Mech, Peto Gro, small Rio Grande, Roma) Point ofdetachment of fruit at harvest at calyx attachment at pedicel joint (3rdfruit of 2nd or 3rd cluster) Length of dedicel (3rd fruit of 9 mm 12 mm2nd or 3rd cluster) Length of mature fruit (3rd fruit of 64 mm 58 mm 2ndor 3rd cluster) Diameter of fruit (3rd fruit of 2nd 48 mm 50 mm or 3rdcluster) Weight of mature fruit (3rd fruit of 76 grams 80 grams 2nd or3rd cluster) Size small (Early Mech, Europeel, small Roma) Ratiolength/diameter small (Alicia) small Core present present Size of corein cross section (in very small (Cerise) small relation to totaldiameter) Number of locules only 2 (Early Mech, 2 or 3 Europeel, SanMarzano) Surface slightly rough smooth Base color (mature-green stage)light green (Lanai, VF apple or medium 145-F5) green Pattern(mature-green stage) uniform green green- shouldered Green shoulder(before maturity) absent (Felicia, Rio Grande, absent Trust) Intensityof green color of fruit light (Capello, Duranto, medium (beforematurity) Trust) Color at maturity (full-ripe) red (Ferline, Daniela,red Montfavet H 63.5) Color of flesh at maturity (full-ripe) red/crimson(Ferline, Saint- red/crimson Pierre) Flesh color uniform uniform Loculargel color of table-ripe fruit red red Firmness medium (Cristina) mediumShelf life long (Daniela) long Time of flowering medium (Montfavet H63.5, medium Prisca) Time of maturity medium (Montfavet H 63.5) mediumRipening (blossom-to-stem end or uniform uniform uniform?) Ripening(along the radial axis of uniformity uniformity the fruit) Epidermiscolor yellow yellow Epidermis (normal or easy-peel?) normal normalEpidermis texture average tough Thickness of pericarp medium (Carmello,Europeel, medium Floradade, Heinz 1706, Montfavet H 63.5) Sensitivity tosilvering insensitive (Marathon, Sano) insensitive 8. Chemistry andcomposition of full-ripe fruits pH 4.26 4.26 Titratable acidity, as %citric 0.38176 0.41984 Total solids (dry matter, seeds and skin 6.7911415.125565 removed as % residue on Wt per Wt basis) Soluble solids as°Brix 5.195 4.4 9. Phenology Seeding to once over harvest 119 days 120days Season medium (Westover) medium Relative maturity in areas testedmedium medium early 10. Adaptation Culture field field Regions to whichadaptation has been Sacramento and Upper San demonstrated Joaquin Valleyof California *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Tomato Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof tomato hybrid PX 02470002 involving crossing tomato lines PSQ 24-2212and PSQ 24-2147. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid PX 02470002, line PSQ 24-2212, or line PSQ 24-2147 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid PX 02470002 and/or the tomato lines PSQ 24-2212and PSQ 24-2147, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid PX 02470002 and/or the tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147.Plants derived from hybrid PX 02470002 and/or the tomato lines PSQ24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new tomato varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid PX 02470002 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PX02470002 and/or tomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 for the purposeof developing novel tomato lines, it will typically be preferred tochoose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selecteddesirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s)when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, inspecific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedlingvigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, andadaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits,such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples oftraits that may be incorporated into new lines of tomato plantsdeveloped by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PX 02470002 exhibits desirable traits, as dotomato lines PSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147, or hybrids derived therefrom.The performance characteristics of hybrid PX 02470002 and tomato linesPSQ 24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147 were the subject of an objective analysis ofthe performance traits relative to other varieties. The results of theanalysis are presented below.

2010 Data

2010 Processing Tomato PTAB Report Oct. 16, 2010 2010 Variety VarietyRank Code Name Loads Brix Color LU pH Mold 3 102 AB 2 53,678 5.7 25.21.6 4.38 1.6 9 345 SEMINIS PS 345 10,243 5.0 25.4 1.2 4.56 4.2 12 444SEMINIS APT 410 8,836 5.3 24.8 1.7 4.39 0.4 15 315 SEMINIS HYPEEL 3037,381 5.0 24.8 2.4 4.54 2.9 16 849 SEMINIS HYPEEL 849 7,129 5.0 23.9 0.64.43 2.6 17 3 DERUITTER AB 3 6,995 5.6 24.8 1.7 4.41 1.6 29 108 SEMINISHYPEEL 108 2,470 5.4 25.3 2.1 4.51 1.8 31 656 PX 650 2,332 5.5 25.2 1.64.48 1.3 44 816 SEMINIS PS 816 1,011 4.9 28.5 0.9 4.33 0.3 57 347SEMINIS HYPEEL 347 398 5.5 23.7 1.8 4.42 2.9 58 460 AB 4606 389 5.8 24.01.3 4.41 0.8 64 631 DE RUITER DRI 0306 209 5.6 24.5 3.2 4.40 1.4 65 25DT AB2-3155 197 5.6 24.6 1.3 4.41 1.4 72 602 PX 002 135 5.1 25.6 1.64.45 2.2 73 34 DE RUITER DRI 0314 134 6.1 23.6 1.4 4.30 0.9 79 17SEMINIS PS 1110 107 5.3 24.4 1.4 4.41 1.0 94 111 DE RUITER DRI 0311 285.3 23.3 2.6 4.30 1.7 98 169 AB 314 27 5.2 25.8 1.5 4.35 2.6 95 61 PX1111 27 5.9 24.6 2.1 4.42 1.6 109 655 SVR 650 13 5.6 23.1 0.4 4.46 0.7116 410 PETO NEMA 1401 8 5.2 24.5 0.6 4.35 0.3 124 407 AB 4077 4 5.631.0 0.4 4.37 0.0 121 7 SEMINIS PS 1111 4 5.2 28.0 0.3 4.39 0.1 127 167PS 1671 3 5.5 26.0 1.2 4.45 1.5 126 210 SEMINIS XPH 5210 BRIGA 3 5.324.0 0.3 4.33 0.5 138 266 RS 2661 1 6.0 24.0 1.5 4.40 0.5 142 303 DERUITER DRI 0303 1 4.8 27.0 5.5 4.62 0.5

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those tomato plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentaltomato plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental tomato plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a tomato plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny tomato plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of tomato the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of tomato plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including in monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35Spromoter (P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988);the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwortmosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promotersequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA virus promoters known toexpress in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2)light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcSpromoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding proteinpromoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al.,1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, orSafener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters(e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al.,1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a tomato plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a tomato plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a tomatovariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a tomato plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and inbred parent lines PSQ24-2212 and PSQ 24-2147, disclosed above and recited in the claims, hasbeen made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of each of thedeposits was Sep. 14, 2010. The accession numbers for those depositedseeds of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and inbred parent lines PSQ 24-2212and PSQ 24-2147 are ATCC Accession No. PTA-11329, ATCC Accession No.PTA-11330, and ATCC Accession No. PTA-11327, respectively. Upon issuanceof a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and thedeposits are intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R.§1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in the depository for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for theeffective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replacedif necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

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1. A tomato plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes oftomato line PSQ 24-2147, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11327.
 2. A seedcomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of tomato line PSQ24-2147, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-11327.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which is inbred. 4.The plant of claim 1, which is hybrid.
 5. The plant of claim 4, whereinthe hybrid plant is tomato hybrid PX 02470002, a sample of seed of saidhybrid PX 02470002 having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-11329.
 6. The seed of claim 2, wherein the seed produces an inbredplant of line PSQ 24-2147.
 7. A plant part of the plant of claim
 1. 8.The plant part of claim 7, further defined as a leaf, an ovule; pollen,a fruit, or a cell.
 9. A tomato plant having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the tomato plant of claim
 5. 10. Atomato plant having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the tomato plant of claim
 1. 11. A tissue culture ofregenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 12. The tissue cultureaccording to claim 11, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant partselected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons,pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed andstalks.
 13. A tomato plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim12, wherein said plant has all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of tomato line PSQ 24-2147, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11327.
 14. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1 comprising thesteps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from theplant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising growingat least a first plant from said rooted plantlets.
 16. A method ofintroducing a desired trait into a tomato line comprising: (a) crossinga plant of line PSQ 24-2147 with a second tomato plant that comprises adesired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11327; (b)selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c)backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of line PSQ 24-2147 toproduce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprisingthe desired trait and the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of tomato line PSQ 24-2147; and (e) repeating steps (c)and (d) three or more times to produce selected fourth or higherbackcross progeny that comprises the desired trait.
 17. A tomato plantproduced by the method of claim
 16. 18. A method of producing a plantcomprising an added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgeneconferring the trait into a plant of hybrid PX 02470002 or line PSQ24-2147, a sample of seed of said hybrid and line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-11329 and ATCC Accession NumberPTA-11327, respectively.
 19. A plant produced by the method of claim 18.20. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a transgene.
 21. The plantof claim 20, wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from thegroup consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acidmetabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 22. The plant of tomato linePSQ 24-2147, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-11327, the plant further comprising a singlelocus conversion, wherein the conversion was introduced into said lineby transformation or backcrossing.
 23. The plant of claim 22, whereinthe single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the groupconsisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism,environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism andmodified protein metabolism.
 24. A method for producing a seed of aplant derived from at least one of hybrid PX 02470002 or line PSQ24-2147 comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a tomato plant of hybridPX 02470002 or line PSQ 24-2147 with itself or a second tomato plant; asample of seed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-11329 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11327,respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid PX 02470002 or line PSQ24-2147-derived tomato plant to form.
 25. The method of claim 24,further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from saidhybrid PX 02470002 or PSQ 24-2147-derived tomato seed to yieldadditional hybrid PX 02470002 or line PSQ 24-2147-derived tomato seed;(d) growing said additional hybrid PX 02470002 or line PSQ24-2147-derived tomato seed of step (c) to yield additional hybrid PX02470002 or line PSQ 24-2147-derived tomato plants; and (e) repeatingthe crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate at least afirst further hybrid PX 02470002 or line PSQ 24-2147-derived tomatoplant.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second tomato plant is ofan inbred tomato line.
 27. The method of claim 24, comprising crossingline PSQ 24-2212 with line PSQ 24-2147, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11330, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-11327, respectively.
 28. The method of claim 25,further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid PX 02470002 or PSQ24-2147-derived tomato plant with a different tomato plant to produceseed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 29. A hybrid seed produced by the methodof claim
 27. 30. A plant produced by growing the seed of claim
 27. 31. Aplant part of the plant of claim
 30. 32. The plant part of claim 31,further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or acell.
 33. A method of producing a tomato seed comprising crossing theplant of claim 1 with itself or a second tomato plant and allowing seedto form.
 34. A method of producing a tomato fruit comprising: (a)obtaining the plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has beencultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a tomato from the plant.